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This week, I was answering questions from our PWJ members at our weekly “Ask Jonny” live event, and one of our students asked this:

“Jonny, what is your go-to fill when there are gaps in a song?”

And I had to take a moment to think about it.

I thought about all the fancy runs, and those crazy reharms.

And then I realized, wait a minute… those aren’t it.

And then it hit me like a ton of bricks…

Of course I know my favorite fill, because I use it all the time.

In fact, I use it so much that I would consider it a “signature Jonny May fill”.

It’s so powerful because it works across nearly all genres of piano, it’s easy to play, and it sounds really good.

And if I’m playing a song “on the spot”, and I just need something to fill, this is my go-to.

If you want to confidently add fills “on the spot”, you need to develop a signature fill that is reliable and tried-and-true.

And this fill has never let me down.

A great fill is like a loyal friend.

It completes your sentences.

It knows just how to respond.

It complements you in just the ways you need.

Today, I encourage you to identify your “loyal musical friends”.

These are select scales, chords, fills, and the like. I know mine. Do you know yours?

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